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Why it’s so important to join a dental study club?

In a nutshell, study clubs are a great way to network, learn about new techniques and technologies, and – potentially – increase your referral base.

All of these benefits take on extra significance for the implant practice, as staying ahead of the game is an essential part of business success. They also offer you a forum to share clinical concerns with like-minded colleagues, as well as ensuring you don’t feel alone in what can otherwise feel like a lonely profession.

Study clubs come in many shapes and sizes, from gatherings of local practices to dental company-led organised events. If you’re hosting an event, then the ball is in your court as to the agenda for the evening. You may like to lead the discussion or to invite a guest speaker. Possible topics for your consideration include:

Marketing

Treatment planning

Team working

Ergonomics

New technology in implantology.

Time and date are up to you, however common sense dictates that evening programmes are likely to be the most convenient for implant dentists and their teams working full-time in practice. Cost is also an important factor, of course, and something that needs to be looked into properly. The biggest expense will probably be the honorarium paid to any speaker, while you might also want to consider providing drinks and nibbles for your delegates. If these costs lead you to think that attendees need to pay a fee, make sure you handle the money in a way that both your accountant and the tax man will be happy about!

And don’t forget that attendance at your study club can count towards your CPD hours. Whether it can be considered verifiable depends on whether you can meet the General Dental Council’s (GDC) criteria. It is also important to note, going forward, that the GDC is set to transition to new CPD rules in 2017, so it is important to keep that in mind during your planning phase. Details are available at http://www.gdc-uk.org/dentalprofessionals/cpd/pages/enhanced-cpd.aspx.

In terms of staying current, continuously building your CPD portfolio and being able to reach out to like-minded clinicians, study clubs are hard to beat! That’s why you should join, or start, a study club.